Atal Tinkering Lab Setup Guide for Schools

Table of Content

• What Is an Atal Tinkering Lab?
  
• Who is eligible to apply?
  
• Physical Space requirements
  
• Funding: The Government Contribution
• What's on the Atl Tinkering Lab Equipment List?
• Staffing and Human Resources
• Bulk Ordering & School Kits
• Conclusion
• FAQs

India is changing its education landscape in ways few governments ever have on such a massive scale. By initiating atal tinkering lab in 2016 under the Atal Innovation Mission by NITI Aayog, a working space for innovation was brought to over 10,000 schools in 35 states and union territories. Students from classes 6 to 12 now have access to technologies and equipment, along with mentors, that were once only available in engineering institutions and research organizations.

To school managers and teachers aspiring to bring such an opportunity to their students, the process of setting up an Atal Tinkering Lab may initially appear complex, requiring fulfillment of certain eligibility criteria, spatial provisions, acquisition of equipment and staffing, along with training. This guide lays down a clear and step-by-step process on how any government or private school can achieve this.

What Is an Atal Tinkering Lab?

A space assigned at school to discover STEM through making is the atal tinkering lab Overall, the program is designed to bring creativity, curiosity, and a design thinking framework towards problem-solving in children.

The lab is not an ordinary computer room or science lab but a maker space where children work with real equipment to build, create, prototype, and code, and even get to learn about the technology of robotics, IoT, and 3D printing.

The learning program is a unique blend of the traditional Indian aged learning practice of the Gurukul system and the Finnish way of the self-learning process, focusing on practicality and higher-order thinking.

To learn more about innovation programs in schools, you can visit the official Atal Tinkering Lab page by Atal Innovation Mission.

Who is eligible to apply?

The school must be eligible as per the guidelines set forth by the Atal Innovation Mission before any effort or resources are used in filling the application and submitting for the ATL:

●     A recognized school, either a government, government-aided, or private school functioning in India.

●     Offers class 6 th to class 12 th

●     Can spare at least 1000-1500 sq. Ft. of permanently usable, safe space. This space will exclusively be the atal tinkering lab.

●     Has a willing and dedicated teacher or school staff member who will act as the ATL in charge.

●     Is willing to maintain the lab and use it for at least two hours per week on a timetable in a structured period.

A huge number of schools that receive approval are those that are government or government-aided. Over 60% of the 10,000 functioning Atal Tinkering Labs are run in government or government-aided schools. 96% of all ATLS are run in girls' or co-education schools.

Physical Space requirements

The laboratory must adhere to the prescribed physical specifications set forth by the Atal Innovation Mission. If these are adhered to, it saves time on the approval and delivery process of the equipment.

Space details:

●     No less than 1000sqft and not more than 1500sqft of usable floor space

 

●     An ideal room is one open plan room to provide for a number of different arrangements of work stations.

●     The room must be secured, i.e. Be capable of being locked when unoccupied

●     The space should be easily accessible to students during school operating hours

●     Sufficient electrical outlets must be available in the room, sufficient for all devices

●     There should be suitable lighting and ventilation for the safe usage of all tools and components

Branding and Design:

●     ATL Branding guidelines issued by AIM should be adhered to.

 

●     The laboratory must have a stimulating environment for students to be creative. Ample wall space for projects should be provided, and open areas that allow student collaboration.

●     Standard atal tinkering lab branding logos, signages, etc should be clearly visible as mentioned in the orientation guide.

Funding: The Government Contribution

The most pragmatic feature of the program is the funding provided with an approved application. There is no obligation for schools to fully fund the lab from its own pockets.

An approved school is given a total grant of Rs 20 lakhs, of which Rs 10 lakhs is for capital expenditure for setting up the lab and Rs 10 lakhs is for operational expenditure over five years.

The funds disbursement schedule:

●     The first installment is disbursed once the lab is established and an utilisation certificate has been submitted by the school.

●     The installments for the rest of the period are dependent on usage reports and compliance reports submitted.

●     The capital expenditure is to be utilized through procuring all the equipment on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).

The items for which capital funds can be utilized:

●     Robotics kits and components

●     IoT kits and devices

●     3D printers and materials for 3D printing

●     Electronics prototyping tools, such as Arduinos and Raspberry Pi boards, and other electronic prototyping kits.

●     Computers and/or tablets, if not already available at the school.

●     Small hand tools, storage units, and workbenches.

The items that can be covered by operational expenditure:

●     Consumables such as wires, filaments, solder, etc.

●     Workshop and training for teachers.

●     Travel expenses for students participating in various competitions and events.

●     Repair and maintenance of previously bought equipment.

What's on the Atl Tinkering Lab Equipment List?

The atal tinkering lab equipment list is set to address 4 areas of learning, namely, electronics and sensors, physical computing and robotics, fabrication, and design thinking. Schools buying equipment for the first time need to use the "Atl Equipment List" available at the Aim Website.

Main categories of equipment to be acquired

Electronics and Sensors

●     Arduino Boards (Starter, Mega, etc.)

●     Raspberry Pi computers

●     Breadboards, Passive Components (resistors, capacitors, etc), active components (LEDs, diodes, etc), and other miscellaneous electronics components

●     Various sensors- Ultrasonic, Infra-Red, Humidity, Light and Temperature sensors

●     Motor Drivers and Servo Motors

Robotics and Physical Computing

• Robot Building Kits (level from class 6 to class 12)
• Wheeled robot chassis and motor assembly kit
• Robotic Arm kit for demonstration and programming tasks
• Drone or UAV kit

Fabrication Tools

●     3D Printer (with a reasonable size of the printbed)

●     3D Printer filaments (various types)

●     Manual tools (screw drivers, plyers, etc.) and a soldering iron kit

●     Safety equipment (Gloves, eye gear)

Design and Computing

●     Computers or tablets with the required software to be loaded on them (e.g., CollabCAD)

●     An internet connection for many concurrent users.

●     Projector or large screen

Staffing and Human Resources

It is not just the equipment that is essential to run a lab; it's the human part of the equation as well, and here, schools often find the biggest problem.

ATL In-Charge (ATL IC):

●     The lab must have one teacher or staff member assigned to the job of coordination. This person must maintain records, supervise students, and ensure the reporting required by the AIM framework.

●     AIM conducts a separate atal tinkering lab IC training session at the beginning of each year through teacher orientation programs.

●     The ATL In-charge must be fully trained and complete the training modules on the AIM self-learning portal before the lab can become operational.

ATL Advisory Body:

A school is required to form an internal committee to oversee the lab. Normally, the principal, one or two senior teachers, and an external expert are part of this committee.

Mentors of Change:

●     AIM has a Mentors of Change program where professionals, academicians and industry experts give their time to coach students with their ATL projects. Impriindia.

●     Mentors can be nominated for the school once the ATL is operational, and can be requested from the AIM portal. The presence of an active mentor drastically enhances the quality of the students' projects.

Bulk Ordering & School Kits

Schools that are implementing the Atal Tinkering Lab for the first time require the purchase of a substantial quantity of items in one order. Placing a bulk order from a trusted vendor can prove to be cost-effective, create parity within the Lab and accelerate the set-up process.

Why bulk purchasing makes sense in setting up an ATL:

●     All students in a session will work with the same set of items, simplifying instruction and debugging.

●     Bulk rates from a registered vendor decrease the final cost relative to the allocated capital grant.

●     Pre-bundled Kits minimize the time required to check, sort and organize the different parts.

Recommended kit bundles for ATL procurement:

Bundle	Suitable for	Contents
Starter STEM Bundle	Level 1 and 2 students	Basic electronics kit, breadboard set, sensor starter pack, activity guide
Robotics Builder Bundle	Level 2 and 3 students	Robot chassis, Arduino Uno, motor drivers, wheels, sensor module
Advanced Maker Bundle	Level 3 and 4 students	Raspberry Pi kit, IoT sensor set, robotic arm components, 3D design tools
Full ATL Setup Bundle	New labs	All of the above, plus hand tools, safety gear, and storage solutions

 

Conclusion

Creating an Atal Tinkering Lab can be among the most rewarding investments that a school can make to foster its students' growth for years to come. By providing funding, a curriculum skeleton, access to mentors, national competitions, and a core belief that students learn best through actually making something, it allows for truly engaged and enriched student experiences.

The conditions for applying are not stringent for any school willing to offer the required space and teachers. Schools that are serious about establishing their own are recommended to study available kit bundles, place a bulk order at the earliest possible point, and thereby set their lab up for a successful initial year.

FAQs

1. Can a private, unaided school apply for an atal Tinkering Lab?

Yes, government and private unaided schools are eligible to apply as long as they have the necessary space, staff, and infrastructure facilities according to the eligibility criteria prescribed by AIM.

2. Is the 20 lakh grant enough to set up the whole lab?

Yes, for an operational starter setup, the 20 lakh grant is quite sufficient. Some schools extend the variety of equipment available by using CSR or internal funding.

3. How long does the application take to be approved?

 The approval process can take time, ranging from 3-6 months once a complete application is submitted.

4. Do the teachers need to have a technical background to operate the lab?

 No, they do not need to have a technical background; AIM conducts various online and in-person orientation and training sessions through their online portal. The success of a Tinkering Lab largely depends on the curiosity and interest of a teacher, along with basic computer literacy.

5. What are the competitions available for the students once the lab has been set up?

 Students are able to participate in the ATL Marathon, ATL Tinkerpreneur, School Innovation Marathon, and Mega Tinkering Day(which are held by AIM throughout the academic year).